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Some (incomplete) thoughts on today’s #QueensSpeech (content note: mention of rape, gender based violence and homo/bi/transphobic persecution) (1/16)
We agree that changes need to be made to the asylum system in the UK. The UK Government and Scottish Government should do more to welcome refugees, and ensure those who are fleeing persecution have a safe place to rebuild their lives. (2/16)
Current plans to reform the asylum system would do the opposite. That’s why we responded to the Home Office consultation saying the proposals should be scrapped, and explaining why the plans would have a particularly negative impact on LGBT refugees. Some of these include: (3/16)
Lesbian refugees have often been married to men and/or had children in their country of origin. This can often lead to their claims being fast tracked or rejected even in cases where marriage was essential for survival, forced, or where children were the product of rape. (4/16)
Plans to “streamline” the process, & have stricter tests on fear of persecution, will make this worse. These changes would place lesbian refugees at greater risk of being returned to their country of origin to further experience gender based violence and persecution. (5/16)
Many LGBT refugees have been entirely unable to openly express their sexual orientation or gender identity in their country of origin. It is therefore incredibly difficult for them to provide “proof” of their sexual orientation or gender identity immediately on arrival. (6/16)
Plans to introduce a “one-stop” process, where refugees must present all relevant information about their claim as soon as they arrive, will be incredibly difficult for LGBT refugees, through no fault of their own. (7/16)
LGBT refugees can face homophobia, biphobia or transphobia in detention or accommodation once arriving here. It is vital we ensure that LGBT refugees do not continue to face the same kind of persecution that may be the very reason they left their country of origin. (8/16)
Plans to introduce detention in “reception centres” will make these problems worse. Refugees should be housed in the community, where they can begin to rebuild their lives. (9/16)
If you can, please donate to Vogue Scotland’s fundraisers for LGBT Unity, which supports LGBT refugees living in Scotland: https://uk.gofundme.com/f/lgbt-unity-fundraiser?utm_campaign=p_cp_url&utm_medium=os&utm_source=customer All refugees living in Scotland face extreme financial hardship – and these proposals would make this worse. (10/16)
Follow @UKGLIG @justrightscot @scotrefcouncil @AsylumMatters for much more expert knowledge and info about this, and to find out ways you can help to oppose these changes going forward (11/16)
#VoterID laws aren’t needed. They will prevent many many (many!) more people from voting than there is voter fraud in the UK. These laws will disproportionately affect people who are already marginalised: people of colour, disabled people, poor people, trans people. (12/16)
You can sign an @electoralreform petition opposing these plans here: https://action.electoral-reform.org.uk/page/35710/petition/1 and learn more about the problems from @RunnymedeTrust & @Libertyhq (13/16)
We welcome the commitment to introduce legislation to ban so-called ‘conversion therapy’. The legislation would cover England & Wales, so similar legislation would most likely be needed in Scotland. All of the elected parties committed to a ban in their manifestoes. (14/16)
However, the news of a consultation is concerning and will be hard for our communities to hear. We don’t need a consultation to know that all practices that seek to convert, suppress, cure or change us are dangerous, abusive and must be banned. (15/16)
Follow @BanCTorg to keep up to date with changes in England & Wales after this announcement, and follow @ECTScotland to follow what’s going on in Scotland to #BanConversionTherapy (16/16)
